Red Stripe
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin & History
Origin unknown. The variety was introduced in Indiana by Mr. Rockhill, who is reported to have "made more money from the trees of this variety than from twice as many of any other early apple." It was extensively propagated in parts of Indiana under the names Early Red Margaret (incorrectly) and Rockhill's Summer Queen, and was recommended for general cultivation in that state (Warder, 1867). Downing (1900) confirms it "comes to us from Indiana."
Tree
Hardy in nursery and orchard, productive. Shoots very downy (Warder).
Fruit
Size: Sources disagree. Warder describes the fruit as medium to small. Downing describes it as medium. Thomas (1903) describes it as rather large.
Form: Oblong conical. Warder adds that it is furrowed or ribbed; Downing describes it as almost ribbed.
Skin: Polished, pale yellow, mixed and splashed with crimson (Warder). Downing describes it as whitish, considerably striped, splashed, and mottled with crimson.
Stem: Sources disagree. Warder describes the stem as medium. Downing describes the stalk as short and slender.
Cavity: Acute, regular, browned (Warder).
Basin: Very shallow, plaited (Warder).
Calyx: Very small, closed (Warder). Downing confirms closed.
Flesh & Flavor: Whitish, tender, fine-grained, juicy (Warder); Downing omits fine-grained but otherwise agrees: white, tender, juicy. On flavor, Warder describes it as acid; Downing as pleasant subacid; Thomas as mild, sub-acid. Quality rated good by Warder and Downing; Thomas rates it very good.
Core & Seeds: Sources disagree on the core. Warder describes the core as long, oval, embracing the eye. Downing describes it as large and open.
Season
July and August (Warder). Downing gives August. Thomas gives late summer.
Uses
Valuable for table or kitchen (Warder). Downing describes it as valuable for market or cooking.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Lowther's Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) lists the variety in a coded characteristic table:
Description absent; variety present in variety-characteristic table.
Red Stripe.. M ob rs VG b
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Red Stripe. EARLY RED MARGARET (incorrectly) — ROCKHILL'S SUMMER QUEEN (Indiana).
This handsome and productive early apple has been extensively propagated in parts of Indiana, under the names above presented. It was introduced at Fort Wayne by Mr. Rockhill, who is reported to have "made more money from the trees of this variety than from twice as many of any other early apple." Recommended for general cultivation in that State.
Tree hardy in nursery and orchard, productive; Shoots very downy.
Fruit medium to small, long, conical, furrowed or ribbed; Surface polished, pale yellow, mixed and splashed crimson.
Basin very shallow, plaited; Eye very small, closed. Cavity acute, regular, browned; Stem medium. Core long, oval, embracing the eye; Flesh whitish, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor acid; Quality good; Table or kitchen; Season, July and August.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Red Stripe.
English Red Stripe. Carolina Red Stripe. Rockhill's Summer Queen.
Origin unknown. Comes to us from Indiana. Tree hardy and productive. Valuable fruit for market or cooking.
Fruit medium, oblong conical, almost ribbed, whitish, considerably striped, splashed, and mottled with crimson. Stalk short and slender. Calyx closed. Flesh white, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good. August. Core large and open.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Red Stripe.. M ob rs VG b
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Red Stripe. Rather large, oblong, conical, striped; mild, sub-acid, very good. Late summer. Ind.